Rabat — The Sahrawi prisoners auditioned Monday by the military court of Rabat as part of the trial of "Gdeim Izik group" have categorically denied the charges against them, affirming that their activities consisted only of peaceful political action for Western Sahara people rights.

The four defendants interviewed in the morning stressed in particular that the charges were "baseless" and that they were not responsible for the tragic events that occurred in Gdeim Izik, near occupied AL-Ayun, Western Sahara, following its dismantling, November 8, 2010, by the Moroccan forces.

"We are against violence. We are peaceful activists for the rights of the Saharawi people to self-determination", they reaffirmed, denouncing the acts of dismantling the camp, November 8, 2010 by Moroccan forces.

In autumn 2010, about 40,000 Sahrawis set up some 3000 tents in Gdeim Izik to "defend their political, economic and social rights".

Defendants have stated on this occasion that the camp was set up to show the living conditions of Sahrawis who suffer from "poverty", "marginalization" and "oppression" and denounce the Moroccan policy in Western Sahara.

SPS